What a friggin’ time to be alive. This year.

Ngunit ang hindi ko makalimutan
ay ang latay sa aking katawan
nang ako ay nahuli sa ilalim ng
sinag ng buwan

I’m certain that a love this warm exists for you are my proof;
It is the kind I have always felt, resplendent when it is shone.

Hindi na rin niya mapakikinggan
Ang mga kanta sa mga plakang
Itinago sa mga nagdaang taon at
Napuno na ng gasgas at alikabok

Matagal ko ring hinintay ang araw na ito. Matagal-tagal rin akong naghintay.

Noong nakita ko ang mga mata mo
Sa sigwa, sa silakbo at rumaragasang ulan.
Noon pa lang, sigurado na ako.

All we did was watch and wait for
Queens and kings to tell their orders:

Inosenteng mga mata’y nakatitig
Sa kanilang mga kalabang makikisig—
Ngunit dugong bughaw ang nanaig
Sa puso at kamay na naginginig.

By the stares dropped

From your flaring eyes

Hinila kitang papasok
nang pasara na ang pinto’t
nag-aalangan kang tumungtong
sa tren. Ganito tayo nagmahalan:
pinilit tumayo nang diretso
sa bawat pagliko’t biglaang
paghinto;

I’d like to think that I’m just in an extensive phase, with all my reckless choices and actions. I’d like to think that I’m still lost in a sea of different options, battling my way through the versions of me I’ll eventually have to choose from.

When I met you I thought you were the big break I’ve been waiting for. I told myself it’s time for a change, and you coming around seemed to be just the perfect moment.

Like most things, we got along well at first.

I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

(I think I made you up inside my head.)

-from “Mad Girl’s Love Song” by Sylvia Plath

Mother,
Sing me your lullabies
And make me sleep tonight

Tonight,
the world listens to the same song
of gunshots and grown men cries

They try to tell me you’re gone, yet I see –
Your shadow lingering in darkness deep.

I ran, I ran, and I ran
Chasing his elusive shadow,
Through twisted pavements,
And perilous labyrinths.

Sa likod ng isang mataas na bakod,
May napakalaking hardin

Ano ba ang salitang bayani?
Sinu-sino ba talaga sila?

Pumatak na naman ang madaling araw.
Pinipilit ko ang aking mga mata

I lean in so my lips could be anchored to yours.

Babangon ba ang bayan ko, mula sa lapag at puwang na hapag at tutugon sa mga tanong na minsang kinubli, sa takot at pasubali.

Colors fled back to the light, lines are now dots, connecting to its emergence.

We are the Silhouettes standing in line

Hindi mabanggit ang nasa aking isip, kahit na paulit-ulit, paulit-ulit, nang nasabi sa sarili.

Confined feelings. Fragile contents. None extracted.

The world will shatter your dreams, step on your hopes, spit on your hard work, and laugh at your failed attempts.

DO you remember those moments when the world shuts down and you’re just trapped in such an occurrence? It didn’t matter whether the moment was worth of memory or deserving of oblivion, it just stops.

In times of hardship in school, you tend to feel lazy, ignoring everything.

Littered bottles and shards of glass

Sa libro mo nakasaad, ang salitang bibigkas ng pangarap, ang salitang iiwan ang kamangmangan, ang salitang bubuo ng kinabukasan.

She thought his poems were medicine, so she let herself choke in his words. Tasting and dwelling on its bitterness – its inconsistency, she allowed herself to swallow them like a dry pill.

Sa bawat araw na sumisikat, ang puso’y nag-iingat, tungo sa daang marupok, utos kong huwag mahulog, ang ulo’y huwag mauntog.

THE greatest love is more than the love for oneself. It transcends superficial discrimination against particular ages, genders, races, religions, and social strata. What is this then? Is this kind of love even possible? This is none other than the unconditional love of God for us. The greatest love, then, is the embodiment of this. […]

The first love was everything, “I love you’s” were anew. You loved him for his bright, warm smile, He loved you because you were you. She cradled you in loving arms, Sung lullabies to hush the infant cries. She was your guide; you—her pride, She loved you, which she did not deny. They’re around all […]

How odd, that it is only on the second month of the year when one extends his or her gratifying love to his or her significant other in the most extravagant manner? In no other month can you find an abundance of flowers, teddy bears, and heart paraphernalia. In no other day, than that of […]

FAILURES may have been on your way. Maybe you had relationship problems with your family, friends or significant others; or you may have done something you never thought you could do and you regret it. Maybe you felt so lost. Yet, those occurrences shouldn’t affect how your life is going to turn out. This is […]

When you wake up to another sunrise, Do you ever wonder? All your crimes and lies, Forgotten by the Father. Do you even see? It’s His mercy in front of you, You give no attention, To His love upon you. Forgive the wrongs of others, Second chances be plenty. Forgetting the pain and the nightmares, […]

When hope grows frail, And the heart echoes wail, I see glances on the window, And hear knocks on the door. From heaven I stood, To draw it open, I would. As I hear cries for peace, Still roars of doubt, unease. Had it not been for my weakness, I’ll draw them closer, To my […]

To give up your eyes so that the blind can see, To give up your legs so that the lame can walk, To give up your hand so that another can write, To give your heart so one can feel loved To offer your life in the service of others is how one can truly […]

That slight prick within us, Filled with darkness and dread. We live our lives the way we do, Without realizing that inside, We are dead. As the ice begin to thaw out, We learn to smile again. As others look into our eyes, They would feel what it is like, To move forward from the […]

Christmas is a wonderful season, The world rejoice like they’ve won. Accompanied with energetic songs and carols, People go to parks or malls. But – deep down the souls of people, Are their lives already peaceful? Truth is, they’ve been inside a wall – They hide their troubles to jive with the occasion. Christmas such […]

She wishes for a doll made of porcelain, Not a doll made of rags. He wishes for a house made of bricks, Not a box filled with trash. She wishes for fresh food on her plate, Not a stranger’s leftover. He wishes for his mother’s lullaby, Not a broken promise of another. She wishes for […]

Christmas is fast approaching, I haven’t got you a present yet. Maybe a candy cane would be nice, To remember all those bittersweet endings. But then I wait, A little soon for your feedback, Wondering what my present is, When there really is none to return. And still I decorate, The tree filled with crystal […]

I once knew you, As someone I can depend on. Because I’ve been throught a lot with you, Like how I’ve been with my family. But that could have been an illusion, That you’ve shattered in an instant. Like you never cared at all, Nor I have been important to you. I have given you […]

My mother once said you’re Santa Claus, To explain why you’re not here. You’re busy giving Christmas gifts, In the coldest night of the year. I tried so hard to be the one, The girl whom you’d be pleased. I tried so hard in all these years, To be nice and prim. To do what […]

It starts with a dip – a dip too quick to even matter. Then I get used to the coolness of such. I learn to trust the water so I go for more. When I feel that it is safe, I rush for the tides. Everything is good. The water embraces you, keep you afloat, […]

Amidst the crowd I saw a strange, dark figure. He was standing in the place I’ve been roaming in – With a long, black cape, trailing down his back. A scythe on his old, wrinkled hand, A white mask that covers not only his face, but his whole identity. Yet they didn’t know, One by […]

THE night seemed to be too quiet. I was apparently waiting for a ride home. Buses were kind of rare and I had no choice but to wait for one because I was not able to bring my car. How stupid of me. I thought to myself. I decided to walk along the sidewalk. Some […]

I was eight years old when we had the last trip to my family’s hometown in Visayas for a family reunion. It was a happy place, especially during the afternoon, when we all gather in the backyard to share stories. Adults drink beer by the porch while the children play in the living room. This […]

IN the remote town of Miesta lived a reclusive woman named Tamara. Tamara lives at the far end of the town, on a quaint house situated beside a river. In November 1992, several children went missing. They were found a few days later, their lifeless bodies floating in the river. The children’s parents were raging […]

I looked up and the sun almost hit my eyes. I squinted, making sure there wasn’t too much sunlight entering my eyes. Apparently, everyone around was loud enough for me to just keep my thoughts trapped in my head. The noise of the people around me constituted the only sound I hear. They seemed to […]

TANGING mga Koreanovela na lamang ang nakapagpapakilig sa atin – hindi lamang dahil makikisig at magaganda ang mga tampok dito, kung hindi sa kadahilanang dito na lamang natin napapatunayan ang mga katagang “Happily Ever After”. Kapag napapanood natin ang mga ito sa telebisyon, binabagabag tayo ng ating isip at nasasambit natin ang mga tanong kung, […]

SA pagdaan ng Agosto, Maraming naganap ang ‘di natin gusto. Mga krimen at trahedya; Mga nangyaring ‘di kaaya-aya.   Oo, mabilis ang panahon- Mas matulin pa sa hayop na tumatakbo’t tumatalon; Ngayong Setyembre na naman, Heto na naman, higit na paglamig at maaaring pag-ulan.   Minsa’t parang yelo na kung aanhin, At malakas na hangin […]

MARAHIL ay magkakaroon talaga ng pagkakataon sa buhay ng mga kabataan na magagawa nilang maipahayag ang kanilang saloobin sa pamamagitan ng mga napapanahong social media accounts o ang mas kilala natin bilang “hugot”. Bawat isa nga sa atin, may love life man o wala ay may napagdaanang masakit na karanasan na kinakailangan ng hugot. Siguro […]

MAY nakita kang umiiyak na dalaga at tinanong mo sa kanya kung ano ang kanyang problema. Sinabi ng dalaga na iniwan daw siya ng kanyang minamahal nang biglaan. Patuloy na nga siyang nagtaka kung bakit palagi na lamang ganyan – gumagawa ng mga pangako na hindi naman nagagawang tuparin. Bakit uso ang pagwiwika ng salitang […]

Hindi ko na namalayan ang paglipas ng oras. Tila magdamag na pala akong nakatingin sa harap ng aking computer, na walang laman ang isipan. Bago mag-madaling araw, kailangan kong magpasa sa aming group leader ng artikulo para sa isa naming asignatura. Ngunit kahit ano pa nga ang aking gawin, wala pa rin akong tamang maisulat. […]

Panahon, Isang napakagaling na gurong, Handog ay bagong kaalaman. Sa bawat hakbang, Pagkatao’y unti-unti na ngang nalilimutan. Sariling dugo’t salita, Pilit na umaanib sa oras, Nagbabago, lumilipas. Tintang isinulat sa libro, Dati ay magandang likha, Makabuluhan – dyamante sa paningin. Ngunit sa kasalukuyan, Isa na ngang duming, pilit na binubura. Sa paglipas ng panahon, Sa […]

The earth cried,
Tears fell to my eyes.
When was the last time,
The rain roared, wind howled, trees crashed, toppled one another like dominoes?

We have made you from blood of ink and bone of tree,
And we know you; we have created you from syntax,

AMIDST this cold town where I belong
Where everyone has been finally defeated and was frightened daylong;
I couldn’t manage to go out of our shelter,
Or else my life would definitely shatter.

FOR the unprivileged,
Commodities are what they should be given.
Shelter, food, clothing, all the basic stuff,
The authority must provide them such needs.

PAG- IIGIB ng mga balde ng tubig Paglilinis at pangangalaga ng mga bukirin Sadyang makaluma kung iisipin Yaon mga ginagawa noon para sa iniibig.

SA isang kuwebang puno ng ginto,
Ay may isang batong kakaiba,
Hawak-hawak ang isang sikreto,
Sikretong tatatak sa ating alaala.

SIMBOLO ng kalinisan,
Mapuputi’t mababango,
Unti-unting nababahiran,
Ng pawis at dugo.

THIS light feeling, suddenly blooming, balmy,
Something I myself can’t even thus detect.

SA pinagpalang tangway,
May namuhay na sampaguita,
Umibig ng isang matapang,
Inilibing sa malawak na hardin.

A boy full of principles. A boy who has a strong faith in God. A boy with a lot of aspirations in life, yet, a little boy, sickly and weak.

In a cursed place in the south,
engraved with horror and plague,
lived a thin lion with an open mouth,
who ran through the forest
vast and vague.

  Three apples • She bites into one of the way home. It left a sour feeling in her stomach, so she threw it out. • The other two sat quietly in her fridge, collecting brown spots until they joined the first one in the trash. One carton of milk • She never drank it. One […]

  A nemesis had been roaming the earth for ages,But its identity is not written in any books or pages,No one knows if it’s a phantom or a killerSome consider it as a demonic sorcerer. But one thing is for sure,Its presence can be felt by the poor.It can’t be seen but it’s severely deadly,Taking […]

     THE pills made her smaller, she could swear to it.      Each day she took one, and each day her clothes hung a little looser on her body and she loved it. She went shopping for new ones as soon as she could, and was gratified to see that she needed shirts […]

Sa malaking hapag ng aming bahay, Marami ang iluluto ni nanay. Maraming masusustansyang pagkain, Ang kinapapanabikang ihain. Ang ulam na lalagyan niya ng gata, Na may sitaw pati na kalabasa. Ito ay nagpapalinaw ng mga mata. Masarap na at nagpapaganda pa. Dagdagan pa ng sinigang na isda, Matinik man, ito naman ay malasa. Mayroon ding […]

You, with your half-beard and your Slovenly button-down thrown over a Bright blue shirt I could never see, You could have been mine. Do you see? I only liked how your skin stretched over your nose But I think I could have kissed you At night, under the awning of the roof (You know which […]

In Jerusalem he walked and absolved the people, this heretic son of a carpenter, and it angered the Temple. With wounded hands and feet; A bloody crown of thorns. Life for blood; Sanctity for flesh. His heart was free of sorrow on the long and steep road. The cross, his descent to hell, a son […]

The weather was nice today. For once, the pebbles in the park were dry and free of inky spots of rain. You once told me rain was like varnish on a cloud and I never understood what you meant until later, when I was alone and you were gone. The weather was nice today. For […]

if I were a turtle, maybe I wouldn’t be so sad. turtles write no sad songs, or stories, or poems. turtles sing songs the sea composed before you or I were born. they live a hundred years aloft on the crest of old waves I’ve known and loved all my life. I’ll journey the sea […]

And all at once time seems to hasten, under darkened skies and colder days here we are again. The wicker tree stands as it does year after year and night after night the stars of Bethlehem guides its sons home. As we light the candles of the Advent wreath one after another the lights seem […]

Paalis man ako’y di makalilisan, isang kaluluwang hindi makaibis sa katawan hindi lalayo, hindi lalaya, hindi nais lumaya. ─Awit ng Sangkatawan, Rebecca T. Añonuevo Sadyang ito ang tadhana ng ating hiling at daing─ Tayong umibig sa hiwa’t hinanakit ng panimdim Hanggang sa tayo’y mapunit sa bulalas ng halinghing; Kandili ay salamisim na nagnaknak sa patalim. […]

Rifles laid down, Chins raised,The umpteenth flagwaving in the palace square. A promise to our youthwafting through the air.Fresh ink from parchmentsealed on foreign soil. Old men sighto the old wishthat youth does not understandnor truly value. The illusion of freedom,choice, and liberty.We are still boundby our mortality. By Miguel Luis Galang